Conservation efforts are expanding from protected areas into landscapes where human activities and nature coexist. Traditional conservation planning, which relies on ecological and economic metrics, is often inadequate for these complex socio-ecological systems. This review explores the integration of relational values, the meaningful connections people form with nature, into conservation planning for these multifunctional landscapes, addressing a gap in the current literature. A review of recent literature confirms a growing but still limited adoption of relational values in conservation planning. Key findings show that successful conservation in multifunctional landscapes requires integrating ecological knowledge with social, economic, and cultural considerations through robust stakeholder engagement. However, challenges persist, including conflicts between stakeholder priorities. Furthermore, there is a lack of standardized methods for measuring both landscape multifunctionality and the plural values people hold, which can stall conservation efforts. To be more effective, conservation planning must move beyond its traditional focus and adopt a holistic approach grounded in strong ecological data and genuine engagement with diverse human values. Recognizing and incorporating relational values is needed for developing legitimate plans that inspire long-term stewardship. Achieving conservation goals necessitates a portfolio approach, using a range of tools from protected areas to incentive programs, to create resilient landscapes that benefit both people and nature. Future success depends on bridging the gap between conservation theory and on-the-ground implementation by genuinely including plural value systems in the planning process.
This review systematically analyzes the scientific literature on interactions among ecosystem services (ES) in the territory of the American Gran Chaco, covering its three constituent ecoregions (Dry, Humid, and Serrano), over the last 24 years (2001–2025). The objective is to synthesize the current state of knowledge by: (a) identifying the main documented trade-offs and synergies; (b) characterizing the analytical approaches and methods used; (c) determining the main drivers of ES interactions; and (d) identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities for more integrated and sustainable landscape management. Our analysis of 106 studies reveals that ES research in the Chaco is a growing and diversifying field of study. Although biophysical approaches have historically dominated (49
Invasive species are a global threat to biodiversity. In this review we show how the invasive species problem is hierarchical, involving species and their context-dependent interactions with other species embedded in social-ecological landscapes with the potential for positive and negative feedback dynamics, lock-ins, and emergent dynamics. We focus on how landscape pattern influences the distribution and abundance of invasive species, how reciprocal feedbacks between landscape pattern and social-ecological process shape invasion dynamics, and how invasive species reshape social-ecological landscapes. Landscape heterogeneity is responsible for the context-dependency of invasions as we explore via a series of case studies from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Our ability to detect invasive species is being enhanced at both the smallest and largest extents through molecular, citizen science, and geospatial advances; simultaneously, computational developments are transforming how such data are interrogated. However, there are multiple lenses through which to see the ‘problem’ of invasive species. For many Indigenous peoples, humans and the environment are indivisible. Instead, humans share deep kinship ties with non-human species as expressed, for example, through the whakapapa principle of Māori (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa). Many indigenous knowledge systems emphasise the importance of place, which is critical for understanding the social-ecological context of invasive species. Invasive species and their effects are embedded in a social landscape of values as much as they are an ecological one – attempting to understand and manage invasive species at the landscape (or any) scale as a purely ecological problem is unlikely to succeed. Attempts to address the problems posed by invasive species are being facilitated by new technologies, but must consider place and context if they are to be successful.
Spatial networks are extensively used in ecology to represent exchanges among landscape features (e.g., habitat patches, river segments) or biological entities (e.g., individuals, populations, communities). I reviewed the literature produced in the past 25 years using these networks. Distinct types of spatial networks have emerged in several subfields of ecology. I aimed to assess whether this gave rise to disconnected research silos or, in contrast, whether methodological similarities generated bridges to connect theoretical frameworks. I reviewed 679 papers and identified six main types of spatial networks. Habitat networks were the most used, usually for connectivity assessments with conservation-oriented purposes. In contrast, studies using metapopulation, metacommunity, or river networks were the most embedded in theoretical ecology. Population genetic networks were essentially used in landscape genetics. Finally, meta-networks combining several of the above have more recently favored the integration of these typically disconnected approaches. The lack of connection among research branches mobilizing spatial networks mainly stems from an opposition between applied and theoretical objectives, further reinforced by the differentiation of journal scopes. This divergence could create a mismatch between recent theoretical advances and current methodological designs, possibly affecting the tested predictions and result interpretations. Yet, the diversity of spatial networks is also beneficial. Provided it is acknowledged properly, future works could advantageously build upon existing frameworks for cutting-edge research, as exemplified by recent works on meta-networks.
In this study, we assess whether exotic plant species richness in southern Patagonia is primarily constrained by environmental adversity, human activity or both. The establishment of exotic plant species has been linked to numerous factors, with human activity frequently acting as a primary catalyst. Case studies consistently show that human activities, including the construction of infrastructure such as roads, contribute to the spread of exotic species. Interactions between climate change (e.g. temperature increase; rainfall and hydrological change, increase in extreme weather events) and longstanding grazing threats presumably act synergistically to amplify impacts on plant diversity. Productive habitats were more occupied by exotic plants than less productive habitats. In southern Patagonia, there is little evidence that disturbance generates resources, including available space that in turn benefits exotic plant species. The analysis in this study provides essential information for preventing and mitigating invasion impacts while identifying key factors for the preservation of natural communities.
